A. The Calendar of God
- Accomplished His Word to Abraham – Gen 15:13-16
- Altered their Calendar – Redemption brings new life/changes everything
- Allotment of time in Exodus:
- ch 1 spans 130-140 years
- ch 2-3 spans 80 years
- ch 4-40 spans 1 year
B. Confinement of the Nation in Egypt
God’s purpose – one reason was their unification and identification as a nation, their multiplication (in the luxury of Egypt they multiplied); their separation (kept separate and not mixed up with Canaanite as Judah had done, ch38); and an eventual Revelation of God
C. Central Theme
- Redemption by Blood
- ch 12 Cost
- ch 13 Claims
- ch 14 Completeness
- ch 15 Celebration
- Residency of God among His people
- Relationship begun
- Revelation Given in the law
- Given to reveal the character of God
- Given to prepare a people for Christ
- Given to preserve a nation
- Given to reveal God to the nations
D. Commencement of the Book
- Author – Moses – (Psalm 90 and 91; Pentateuch)
- Confirmed by the Lord Jesus
- Title – Hebrew title: “These are the names” Focus on those who came in
- Greek word given as Exodus – focus on those who went out
- In ch 1 and 2 an emphasis on names: in ch 1, 12 important names; in ch 2, child drawn out of river and named Moses. In ch 3 we have Jehovah. In ch 15 “The Lord is His Name.” Trace the use of “I am the Lord” and the “Name of the Lord.” One of the purposes of Exodus is the Revelation of the Name of the Lord.
- His last words were in Genesis 46. Heaven has been silent. Possibly 400 years. Seven times in ch 3 “God said”
E. Content of the Book/Construction
- ch 1-18 Exodus – Power of God demonstrated – Marvelous Rescue from Egypt
- ch 19-24 The Law Established – Purity of God – Responsibility of the people
- ch 25-40 Tabernacle Erected – Presence of God – Relationship begun
Exo 1-18 Deliverance from Egypt Power of God to Israel The Blood
Exo 19-24 Disposition of the Law Purposes of God for Israel The Book
Exo 25-40 Directions for the Tabernacle Pattern of God for Israel The Building
Can be divided by:
The Bondage Repression The Bread Resources
The Bush Revelation The Book Relationship
The Blood Redemption The Building Residency
Remembrance, Redemption, Resources, Revelation, Responsibility, Relationship
F. Comparison
- Look up the seven altars of Exodus
- We learn about worship by looking at these altars
- Compare the women of Exodus with the women of Genesis
- Women of Exodus: Conviction (midwives), Care (Jochabed), Courage (Miriam), Compassion (Pharaoh’s daughter), Companionship (Zipporah). They are in contrast to the women of Genesis. Satan used a woman in Gen 3 to try and frustrate God; God will use women in Exodus 1 and 2 to frustrate Satan.
- Compare the book of Exodus to the Roman epistle
- Compare to Gospel of John: In John, he speaks about the world holding men in captivity. Over it there is a prince. Into that world a Man comes with a special revelation of God as the I AM. He died as the Passover Lamb; He has set the captives free.
- The book begins with captivity and ends with Glory; begins as slaves and turns them into sons. Begins with building cities for Pharaoh and ends with them building for God
- Government of God among the nations: Egypt for its enforced slavery; nations in Canaan for their idolatry and cruelty.
- Pictures of Christ: Moses, Lamb, Manna, Smitten rock, Servant of Exodus 21; The Ark.
G. Change in God’s Ways
- New Revelation – His Name as Jehovah
- New Regulation – for the first time we get principles of leadership in Moses
- New Relationship – Covenant relationship through law and His residency among them. Called “My people”
- First mention of redemption by blood; first mention of table
Suggested Commentaries
Exodus by CHM – written over a century ago but still invaluable for its devotional content and its insights into the books of Moses
Exodus by C. A. Coates – another old writer, but very helpful in understanding the spiritual lessons of Israel’s history
Exodus – John Grant in WTBT; excellent, up to date, and readable
Gleanings in Exodus by Arthur Pink – once the reader gets past the rather condescending tone of many of Pink’s comments, and is able to recognize and neutralize some of his Calvinistic views, he has good material and practical lessons to impart.
Typical Teachings in Exodus by Edward Dennett
